Bill Hayward

William Louis "Colonel Bill" Hayward (July 2, 1868 – December 14, 1947) was an American-Canadian track and field and basketball coach. He coached track at the University of Oregon and for six United States Olympic teams, from 1908 through 1932.

Athletic career Hayward was born in Detroit. His parents were Canadians and he grew up in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. An all-around athlete likened to Jim Thorpe, Hayward excelled at ice hockey, rowing, wrestling, boxing, and played lacrosse on one of the Ottawa Capitals' world championship teams of the 1890s.

In 1903, Hayward took the head job at Albany College (now Lewis & Clark College in Portland), where his track team defeated the University of Oregon.

Oregon and Olympic career

As head coach of the UO track and field team, Hayward (who was known as "Colonel Bill" due to his gruff demeanor) built it into one of regional dominance and national prominence over his 44 years as coach. In all, he coached four track world record holders, six American record holders, and nine Olympians. 1934 NCAA champion sprinter Mack Robinson, 1938 NCAA champion in the 220 yard dash, won a silver medal in the 200 meters at the 1936 Olympics pole vaulter George Varoff set the world record in 1936 high jumper Les Steers set three world records and was 1941 NCAA champion. Bill Bowerman succeeded Hayward as coach and co-founded Nike, Inc. with Phil Knight.

In addition to his track coaching duties, Hayward served as the athletic trainer for Oregon's football team, where he was known for inventing knee braces and other equipment for the players. He also coached UO's basketball team from 1903 to 1913 and again in 1917–1918, compiling an overall record o

In 1912, Hayward was a coach for the United States team at the Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden, the first of a string of six Olympics in which he coached, through 1936.

Hayward Field Prior to 1921, Hayward's athletes trained at Kincaid Field, which was also the site of Oregon's football field. The field was upgraded several times to accommodate the needs of the growing track and field program, but by 1912, plans for a new facility were made. In 1919, a new football field was built and named Hayward Field in his honor; it was dedicated during halftime of its first football game, but Hayward was busy working as the trainer during the break and was not aware of the honor until the next day.

Death and legacy Hayward's grave markerat Rest-Haven Cemetery Hayward retired from coaching at age 79 in the fall of 1947. He was hospitalized a few months later after being stricken with a heart ailment, and died at Sacred Heart Hospital on December 14, 1947. Hayward was buried at Rest-Haven Cemetery in Eugene.

John Warren succeeded Hayward for the 1947–48 school year, giving way to Bill Bowerman, who became Oregon's head track coach in 1948.

Hayward was an inaugural inductee to both the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992. The Bill Hayward Amateur Athlete of Year Award is given annually to the best amateur athlete in the state of Oregon.